Lubricated bearing



Patented Apr. 4, I899,

0. n. MESTUN.

LUBRICATED BEARING.

{Application filed Nov. 28, 1898.)

(No Model.)

m: NORRIS PETERS co.v PHOYO LITHO.. WASNINGTON. a. c.

" NITED STATE CHARLES R. MESTON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

LUBRICATED BEARING.

SPECIFICA'ITON forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,247, dated April4, 1899.

Original application filed July 9, 1898, Serial No. 685,482. Divided andthis application filed November 28, 1898. Serial No.

. 7 697,650. (No model.)

city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Lubricated Bearings, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in lubricatedbearings designed particularly for use in connection with electricmotors of that type commercially known as ceiling-fan motors, whereinthe motor .is suspended from the ceiling and the fanblades are mounteddirectly upon the armature.

The obj ects' of this present invention are to construct a bearing forthe class of machinery described which will require little or noattention during the period it is designed to run, usually the summerseason, and, further, to so construct said bearing that it will beconstantly lubricated in a simple and efficient manner.

This present application is a division of an application filed July 9,1898, Serial No. 685,482, which latter describes and claims in detailtheelectrical features of the motor, and therefore these form no part ofthis present application.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through myimproved lubricated bearings, showing the relation of thesame to anelectric motor. Fig. 2 is a detail view in 4 section of thearmature-sleeve or hollow shaft, showing the spiral groove containedtherein;

and Fig. 3 is a vertical'sectional view of a modified form of lubricatedbearings.

The essential features ,of this invention reside in providing a rotaryelement with a spiral groove, whose lower end opens into an oil-cup andwhose upper end opens into a reservoir, whereby the rotation of saidelement in the proper direction forces the lubricant upwardly around theshaft on the principle of an Archimedean screw.

Other features of invention reside in the novel construction,arrangement, and combination of the several parts, all as willhereinafter be described and afterward pointed out in the claims.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, B indicates the motor-frame, in which isfixed a shaft O,wl1ich extends downwardly a suitable distance and uponwhich the armature-frame D is arranged. d is the extended bearing or hubportion of said armature-frame. The lower end 0 of shaft 0 is reduced indiameter somewhat and extends below the end of hub d, where it isprovided with a suitable screwthread designed to receive, first, anoil-cup F, which is secured thereon, and, second, aninverted-bell-shaped housing or guard G,'designed to protect the oil-cupF and the bearings from dust, &c., as well as to prevent the oil frombeing thrown outwardly. Between the lower end of hub d and the upperface of the bottom of the oil-cup F is interposed anantifriction-bearing consisting of a series of hardened-steel balls f,which travel or rest upon an annular-shaped track or way'f, placed inthe bottom of the oil-cup. The lower end of hub 01 is provided with ahardened-steel ring or bearing f, which rests directly upon the steelballs.

Rising from the bottom of oil-cup F and inside of the series of theballs f and their bearings is a cylindrical portion F, in theinter'nallower portion of which is a screwthread for engaging the shaft0, the upper end of said cylindrical portion F being provided with abeveled edge or conical face, which is seated upon a gasket as,interposed between said conical face and a corresponding conical face0', formed at the juncture of the shaft 0 with the reduced portion 0.The internal diameter of hub d and the bearing-rings f and f. areapproximately the same, while the outside diameter of the cylindricalportion FT is somewhat smaller, thus leaving a sufficient clearancebetween such parts for the free circulation of oil.

The hub of the armature-frame D is pro- IOU channel around the shaftfrom the lower or central portion of the oil-cup to the reservoir d.WVhen it is desired to supply the bearing with a lubricant, thereservoir d is partially filled with oil, preferably through the hole 1)formed in the frame B. The lubricant when the motor is not runningpasses downwardly through the spiral groove 61", around shaft O,and intothe oil-cup F. Enough oil should be supplied to wholly submerge the endof hub d, the balls, and their respective bearings. It will be seen thatthe rotation of the hub (11, in which the spiral groove is formed, thepitch of said groove being in the proper direction, will force the oilup through the spiral groove, lubricating the shaft 0, and that anyoverflow of said oil from the spiral groove will be received in thereservoir 61. When the rotary element is again in a position of rest,the lubricant will flow to the oil-cup F, as be- 7 fore described.

The spiral groove operates practically on the principle of an internalArchimedean screw, the cup F forming the source of supply from which theoil is drawn while the motor is running, the overflow or elevated oilbeing received in the reservoir (1 in readiness to again return to cup Fwhen the motor ceases to rotate or the speed is reduced so as to beinsuflicient to continue to force the oil upwardly or hold it in thereservoir. The pitch of the groove is also a factor with respect to themaintenance of the oil in the reservoir (Z. The greater the pitch thehigher will be the speed required to effect this result, while a lowerspeed is all that is necessary to cause the elevation of the oil where aslight pitch is employed. Of course it will be understood that theoil-elevating groove is pitched in one direction for a motor running ina certain direction and oppositely pitched for a motor running in areverse direction.

It will be noticed that the lower end of the oil-elevating grooveterminates some distance above the balls, so that at no time is itpossible for the oil to be entirely taken away from said balls, theballs rather running while being submerged in oil.

In order to render the motor noiseless, I arrange a leather or othersuitable washer f under the annular ball-ring f, which also to someextent cushions the armature.

As the oil has a tendency toclimb the periphery of hub (1 when thearmature is rotating, I provide means to interrupt and defeat saidclimbing before the oil reaches a point above the oil-cup. This isaccomplished by two annular grooves d,placed close together, betweenwhich is left an annular flange or pointed projection 61. Should the oilpass the lower groove, it will be thrown off by centrifugal force backinto the oil-cup. Instead of the two grooves 61 I may form an annularflange (Z, projecting beyond the periphery of the hub (Z, as shownbydotted lines in Fig. 2,which flange (Z will perform the functions ofthe part d.

. In Fig. 3 I have shown a modification of my invention in which theshaft 0 rotates, while the bearingD 'is stationary. The shaft, being therotary element in this instance, is provided with a spiral grooveperforming the same function as groove cl,before mentioned. By thisconstruction theoil is forced up by the rotating shaft into a reservoirarranged at the top of the bearing, whence it will fall by gravity backinto the oil-cup when the shaft ceases rotating.

While I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a hearing especially adapted for anelectric motor, it will be understood that there are many other uses towhich myinvention can be employed. I do not wish to be confined to thelocation of the spiral groove in a rotary element in the form of asleeve, as shown'in Figs. 1 and 2, as the principle of my invention isequally elfective where the rotary element is in the form of a shaft anda groove cut therein.

I am aware that many minor changes in the construction, arrangement, andcombination of the several parts of my motor can be made and substitutedfor those herein shown and described without in the least departing fromthe nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is-

1. The combination with a shaft 0, having a reduced portion 0, and aninclined shoulder 0, of an oil-cup formed with an upwardly projectinghollow portion fitting the reduced portion of the shaft, the upper edgeof said projecting portion of the oil-cup being beveled to cooperatewith the inclined shoulder of the shaft, a hub, and a ball-bearin g forthe hub located in the oil-cup; substantially as described.

2. The combination with a shaft C,provided with an inclined shoulder anda reduced portion at its lower end,- of an oil-cup secured on the lowerend of said shaft and provided with a central hollow portion forreceiving the reduced end of the fixed shaft, a leather, or othersuitable, washer arranged in the bottom of the oil-cup,- an annulargrooved ring on the washer, balls on said ring, and a hub supported bysaid balls; substantially as described.

3. The combination with a rotary element having a spiral groove, anoil-cup into which the lower end of said spiral groove opens, and areservoir into which the upper end of said spiral groove leads forreceiving and retaining the oil at a point above the oil-cup, while therotary element is operating; substantially as described.

4. The combination with a rotary element, formed with a spiral groove,of an oil-cup into which the lower end of said spiral groove opens, areservoir into which the upper end of said spiral groove leads forreceiving and retaining the oil at a point above the oil-cup, while therotary element is operating, and means on said rotary element forprevent- IIC ing the oil in the oil-cup from climbingthe periphery ofthe same; substantially as described.

5. The combination with a fixed shaft, of a hub mounted thereon, areservoir formed at the upper end of the hub for receiving and retainingthe oil at a point above theoil-cup, while the rotary element isoperating, an oilcup surrounding the lower end of the hub, and therebeing an internal spiral groove formed in the hub, whereby, when saidhub isrotated, lubricant is forced upwardly around the shaft and intothe reservoir; substantially as described.-

6. The combination with a fixed shaft, a rotating hub mounted thereon, areservoir arranged on top of said hub, an oil-cup arranged at the bottomof the hub, there being an internal spiral groove in the hub forelevating the oil from the oil-cup to the reservoir when the hub isrotating, said groove, also, permit oil-line thereof; substantially asdescribed.-

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in the presence oftwo witnesses, this 23d day of November, 1898.

CHARLES R. MESTON,

Witnesses:

' F. R. CORNWALL,

A. S. GRAY,

